Denver Broncos / NFL

Cutler's courage torments Brownies

Jay Cutler and Dre' Bly have a little midair celebration after Cutler hooked up with tight end Daniel Graham for
a 28-yard touchdown pass during the fourth-quarter rally Thursday night. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)

CLEVELAND — On what could have become another night of living dread, in another crying game, with another hollow log, the Broncos summoned their resolve, their resilience, their reserves and their quarterback, especially their quarterback.

Once more, the Broncos' hard drive torments Grieveland, Ohio.

Thursday night was devoted to Quinn the QB but belonged to Cutler's Comeback — in the game and in this season.

Toward the end of the third quarter, Jay Cutler stood still and still stood on the Broncos' sideline at the 31-yard line. His arms were crossed, and he wore a stocking cap and a scowl as the Browns were on the offensive again. Cutler seemed alone with his thoughts among 73,141 in the stadium, far from the other Broncos.

As the fourth quarter began, the Browns punted, and Cutler walked to the bench and replaced the orange cap with a blue helmet.

On first down at his own 7, Cutler flung the ball long, high and definite to Eddie Royal, who feigned, then hurried for a touchdown that pulled the Broncos within three points.

As he sprinted off the field, Cutler pumped his fist over and over.

It wasn't a 98-yard drive, but it was a 93-yard flash.

The young quarterback had appeared to be in mope mode much of the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium — partially because more Broncos were falling around him, he had thrown another interception, his team was trailing again, he couldn't get the ball often enough and he was watching the season fade like fall.

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When the Broncos' offense was off the field, Cutler paced like a caged lion, sat on the bench with his head buried in his hands, squatted like a catcher with his arms clasped behind his neck.

Brady Quinn was starting his first game and outplaying Cutler, and the Browns were browbeating the Broncos.

Cutler went into beast mode. Suddenly, the Browns' lead was reduced to 23-20. The Broncos got a rare turnover, and there was a skip in Cutler's step, a smile on his face.

Another touchdown pass, and Cutler had put the Broncos ahead. Many, many years ago another quarterback had brought the Broncos back in this very spot, although on an ancient field.

The Broncos were a team Thursday night all America could feel sorry for. Injury struck two more running backs — rookie Ryan Torain, who had been impressive with 68 yards in the first half, and Selvin Young, who was returning from injury — and left the Broncos with zero tailbacks. They tried a fullback; they tried a spread formation with Cutler running and throwing. They tried to hold together. On defense, the Broncos lost their only healthy starting linebacker. Nate Webster joined Boss Bailey and D.J. Williams on the hurt list, and trainers rushed to the field two other times for tight ends Tony Scheffler and Nate Jackson.

The beleaguered Cutler was up and down, out and back — a touchdown drive in the first quarter, the interception, almost another pick in the end zone, the 93-connection with Royal, errant throws, two more near interceptions, two spectacular catches by his receivers.

The Browns responded with a touchdown of their own for a 30-27 lead.

The Broncos got the ball back for one final, er, drive. Cutler moved his arms, moved his feet, moved his team to the Browns' 30 at the two-minute warning.

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What would it be — a tie as in the AFC championship that time and an overtime, another defeat for the Broncos that would threaten their precarious hold on first place, another night of heartache on national TV, a touchdown, a victory?

Cutler scampered to the 11.

Then, touchdown, Cutler to Brandon Marshall — a reverberation from September. The Broncos would survive, would stick and stay, would, at last, block and tackle, would prove the cynics (like me) wrong — at least for this week — and would remain in first place.

Broncos 34, Cleveland 30 in November 2008. In January 1987, Broncos 23, Cleveland 20. In January 1988, Broncos 38-33.

Three points, five points, now, four points.

Cutler drove the Broncos, and he drove himself to victory. Alone often in the backfield, he threw for an amazing 447 yards and three TDs — and played like someone else from Denver who had won here.

In the final minute, Cutler, wearing his orange cap, stood still, still stood on the sideline at the 31, waiting, wondering, as the Browns faced fourth-and-1. The pass failed.

Cutler jumped into the air, hugged a coach, bumped a mate and acted like a kid again when he departed with a posse of three receivers and an offensive lineman.

Jay Cutler wasn't by himself. He was beside himself. And the Broncos were with him.

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